8 Tips to Prevent Holiday Plumbing Emergencies

The More the Merrier?

The holidays are a prime season for out-of-town visitors, and, often, household plumbing emergencies. Lavish feasts mean more grease and food waste to drag down the kitchen drain and disposer, and house guests equal extra showers, baths and toilet flushes that can strain systems that are already partially clogged. But by taking a few precautions, homeowners can avoid costly holiday visits from their local plumber. Remember these pointers when you’re hosting friends and family at home this holiday season.

Save a Drain

Avoid pouring fats or cooking oils down the drain, as they solidify in pipes and cause clogs. Instead, wipe grease from pots and pans with paper towels, and deposit them in the trash.

Skip the Grind

Never put pumpkin pulp, poultry skins, celery, fruit and potato peels, or similar items in your garbage disposer. Stringy, fibrous waste can cause big plumbing problems, as it can’t sufficiently grind these items and they’ll end up clogging your drain.

Just Add Water

Run cold water for 15 seconds before and after using the disposer to flush waste down the main sewer line. Make sure the disposer is running when you put food debris into it -- don’t wait until it’s full before turning it on.

Wash Dishes and Clothes Wisely

Run the dishwasher and washing machine at night or at off times during the day to conserve water temperature and pressure for your guests.

Keep it Hot -- But Not Too Hot!

Turn up your water heater to increase its capacity to meet holiday house guest demand. To avoid scalding, don’t exceed 125 degrees.

Give it a Rest

Avoid plumbing emergencies by spreading showers throughout the day and waiting 10 minutes between showers so that slow drains have time to do their job and your water heater has a chance to recover.

Put Clog Culprits in the Bin

Provide a bathroom trash bin so that the toilet isn’t used as a garbage can. Never flush cotton balls or swabs, hair, facial scrub pads or similar items down the toilet, as they don’t dissolve and are responsible for most clogs.

Call, Don't Stall

Finally, if you notice your plumbing drain pipes are running slowly, treat them with retail drain cleaning products. If that doesn’t do the trick and you find you need a plumber, don’t wait until the holiday is upon you to make the call. You’ll get faster attention and avoid holiday service charges if you tackle the problem right away.